Ice-creeper.



UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

JOSEPH SZAKCS, OF SANDWICH, ILLINOIS.

ICE-CREEPER.

Application filed October 20, 1915.

To all whom it may Concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SZAKos, a subject of the King of llungary, residing at Sandwich, in the county of Dekalb and State of Illinois, have invented new and usevu ful Improvements in Ice-Creepers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements i non-slipping devices as applied to the heels of boots and shoes under the common term of ice-Creepers.

One of the objects ot the invention is to provide means which are readily applied to, or removed from, the heels of ordinary foot coverings, that etfectually engage with a surface trodden upon, preventing slipping or sliding thereon, irrespective of the condition of the surface, as frozen, icy, greasy or otherwise.

A second object is to provide with such appliances, means whereby a resilient or springing effect is obtained, materially reducing the shock or jar oi walking, rendering the same particularly agreeable and pleasant.

These objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this speciication and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the structure, made in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the same, taken on line Q--Q of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a modified form of Creeper. Fig. l is rational view taken on line 1 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the Creeper, indicating its application to a shoeheel.

The appliance consists of a plate 10, shaped to agree in its outline, with a shoe heel and is provided at the liront with a pair of widely disposed. upstandin g lugs 11, having rearwardly turned spurs 12 adapted to engage in the material of the shoe heel, so as to be retained rmly in position. The sides of the plate have upturned lugs 14 adapted to make contact with the sides ot" the shoe heel so as to prevent lateral action when engaged thereon.

At the curved rear portion of the plate 10 is 'inother lug '5.3. having a reinforcement 16, secured to the under side ot the plate 10 bv the rivet 1T in such manner that the reinforcement and lug are united substantially integral. presenting a thickness suitable to Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Mar. i4. 1916.

Serial No. 56,869A

receive the threads of the winged clamp screw 18, provided with a spur point 19, eX- tcnding toward the corresponding spurs 12, at the trout ol' the heel, so 'that as the screw is turned in\,vardly the point enters the back ot the heel firmly securing the plate upon it.

The foregoing description applies equally toboth forms as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, 4.

.ln Fic'` l, the plate is formed with downwardly depending lugs or projections 22 and 23, the same being substantially wedge shaperh with sharp points, adapted to engage with the surface trodden upon under weight of the person wearing them; as will be noticed. these projections are spaced so as to distribute the weight unitormlv. At the front of the plate 10 is secured a 'spring element 25, by the rivet QG, to the lower side. the end of the member being broadened and turned upwardly, tightly engaging with the trout edge of the plate 10 thereini assisting in holding it irmly in position; this spring elr-rmentl extends rearwardly to about the nach ot the heel and is formed with two lateral members 2S, the edges of which are sharply serrated as at 29, and turned down so as to stand parallel, leaving a space between the heel plate and upper portion of the spring element under normal conditions. Then a persons weight is placed on the plate. the spring member 25 is forced up against the plate, while at the same time thel spurs or serrations are forced into the surface. Thus the step is cushioned and the foot assisted in rising by the action of the spring as the weight is transferred from one to the other.

In Figs. 3 and l an adaptation is shown in which lugs 230 and 31 are formed integral with the plate, the front ends of the lugs 30 being curved as at 32, while the corresponding rear ends 33 of the back lugs are similarly bent inward, the bottoms of each of these lugs being serrated as at 34 and 35. The spring element 3G has an upturned edge 3T at the front and is held by the rivet 3S to the plate 10, its rear spring portions #l0 being provided with serrations 41 and outturned at their ends -l? whereby a better grip may be obtained upon the surface traveled over.

lVhile I have shown and described preferred en'ibodimenis of my invention. I do not wish to be confined strictly thereto, as l may modify the construction within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

I claim. l.' In a device of the class described, the

combination, with a plate and means for rel movably attaching the plate to a heel, of

spursl formed integrally with said late, said ing fportins of said member.

2.- In'a deyice of the class described, the

combination with a plate and means for removable engagement therefor, of serrated lugs depending from said plate at the sides thereof, a spring element rigidly secured longitudinally below said plate at the front end thereof, parallel disposed dowrl turned members having serrated edges formed with said spring element and normally extended beyond the plane of said lugs and a plurality of serrations formed onsai-d extending edges.

3. In a device of'the class described, a plate formed Ywith rentrant spurs at the front, projections at the side and a lug, at the rear, a reinforcement for said lug, a

clamp screw in said lug and reinforcement, f

depending spurs on the bottom of said plate, a spring secured at one end to the front of soY said plate, the other end being free and normally extendedfoutward beyond said spurs,

the edges of said spring being downturnetV and teeth formed upon the edges of saiui spring. l

In testimony whereof I have slgned my name to this specification.

JOSEPH s'zAKC's. 

